Whole Boat LED install

[flyin_dutchman]

Whole boat leds? Check!

Whoa maboat!! That is Saweet! You do the install?

 

[maboat]

Whoa maboat!! That is Saweet! You do the install?

I did all the wiring and LED installation, but I need to give credit to @Cory who cut the plexiglass rings for me while I held his beer
I'm pretty much a complete DIY-guy, but its not because I'm very good at it.
I'm a a classic Jack-of-all-trades and Master of NONE.
I do it myself only because if I paid somebody else to do it I know my OCD would kick in and I'd end up re-doing it all anyway!

 

[MOA_Chaser]

OK I want to do this. I'm thinking a strip on the top of each cutout in the helm area, each side, and I likely won't have to do the four cupholders there. I'll also do the cupholders up front. Another set of strips just under the left and right benches. That doesn't seem like much, but would that likely do for my boat interior (2004 SX230)? I don't want to blind anyone, I just want a soft glow throughout the interior after dark. I don't plan on switching my cupholders to stainless, either. Will that be a problem?

I'd like to put a few strips under the back cushions on the swim deck but I'm not sure if they'd be too blinding. Thoughts for those who have done this?

I'm also thinking about using some leftover LED strip, if there is enough, to put some light inside the storage compartments so it would be easier to find stuff in low light. Not sure about that yet.

If I buy this kit mentioned earlier (5050 RGB LEDs), I'm guessing I'd need four-conductor wire to run from location to location. Does anyone have a good source for that? I'd like to get this done so hopefully a US seller...

Proposed locations in red (not my boat):

 

[BigN8]

You could do speaker rings that would light up all 4 corners of the boat and not need to drill any new holes.

 

[GTBRMC]

Controller with at least a dimmer function is absolutely required. Most recent LED strips will knock your night vision out almost completely if you don't have them dimmed.

 

[MOA_Chaser]

I'm guessing those two buttons in the upper left corner of the remote I posted are dimmers?

I was thinking I'd avoid speaker rings since there was some feedback here that exposed LEDs are blindingly bright.

 

[MOA_Chaser]

@txav8r ... do you have some insight to what exactly that controller is capable of? And if you have a source for 4-conductor lead wire to go around the boat?

 

[Julian]

Added this thread to the FAQ under modifications! Great info here!

 

[GTBRMC]

I'm guessing those two buttons in the upper left corner of the remote I posted are dimmers?

I was thinking I'd avoid speaker rings since there was some feedback here that exposed LEDs are blindingly bright.

I missed that you had a link... I would guess the same as you from the photo shown, looks like a nice simple-but-powerful remote interface. I wouldn't be afraid to risk it at that price.

 

[Kross]

everything:
cable: http://amzn.to/1e3XX9h
LEDs x2: http://amzn.to/1e3XXpQ
connectors: http://amzn.to/1e3XZOv

 

[MOA_Chaser]

OK. Ordering 4 Pin Extension Wire, 20 yards and 5 m 5050 RGB LED Waterproof Flexible Strip and Remote. That should get me started... I'm intending on soldering/shrink wrapping all connections, yeah I know that's a lot of soldering...

 

[GTBRMC]

View attachment 24174

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everything:
cable: http://amzn.to/1e3XX9h
LEDs x2: http://amzn.to/1e3XXpQ
connectors: http://amzn.to/1e3XZOv

Did you solder? Or just crimp, shrink wrap, and go? Or...? Thanks.

 

[txav8r]

Sorry I was flying @MOA_Chaser , I order my stuff in eBay out of China generally. It is cheaper than Amazon most times, but the wait can be painful as shipping from China takes weeks.

The controller can change to any one of about 8 solid colors, can fade, blink, dance, and even color change from selected colors. It can also dim. And...it has some programmable keys left over to select custom colors to.

 

[bronze_10]

bump

 

[DJMattyT]

Just wanna bring this thread back for a second lol! I am in the middle of doing my LED install and I ordered all Oracle strips (yeah probably overpaid for strips) but I had good luck with them in my car. Also just wanted to tell you guys the best controller in my opinion is a wifi remote so you can sync it up to your phone via bluetooth and control the LEDs from your phone (It makes people go nuts!) I made custom settings in my car with custom fades/jumps all that stuff, it goes to music, has a bunch of preset programs, you can dial in a specific color you want (Baby blue, bright orange or etc.) http://www.amazon.com/Cooligg-Wireless-Controller-Android-Smartphone/dp/B00EUVDQL0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1455255271&sr=8-3&keywords=led+wifi+controller
It's the same controller I have in my truck controlling my Oracle Halo's

 

[robert843]

My led strip and led speakers just arrived today waiting for it to warm up a bit to get out and do the install hopefully next weekend. Still torn if I'm going to do all the cup holders or do more of a whole boat install and skip the cup holders.

 

[DJMattyT]

I'm going to do my cupholders first then probably wind up ordering more LEDs and doing the whole boat haha

 

[robert843]

I'm going to do my cupholders first then probably wind up ordering more LEDs and doing the whole boat haha

I agree the cup holders just look cleaner and not as bright I'm likely starting there. I ordered two rolls so should have some left to do some accent lighting in a few spots as well.

 

[DJMattyT]

I agree the cup holders just look cleaner and not as bright I'm likely starting there. I ordered two rolls so should have some left to do some accent lighting in a few spots as well.

Check out that controller I posted above it does some awesome stuff

 

[MOA_Chaser]

Bumping this to add some more information, and another question.

1. I bought some 6300 silicone adhesive from Advance Auto because the 3M tape that came on my LEDs didn't work at all. This stuff is TOUGH. It dries clear, too so you don't have to be perfect. Seems to be a great option for semi-permanently mounting the strips.

2. Question. I am looking for a a no-solder connector that will put a 4-prong male end on a bare extension wire. I have looked everywhere, I have the connectors that go straight from the wire to the LED strip, but I need to make a custom extension to go from a strip to a female connector. Has anyone found these anywhere? It seems like a very basic product but for some reason it's not coming up on my Amazon or Ebay searches.

I'm not looking to solder/shrink wrap anything. I'm using silicone sealant on my connectors to ensure they stay together and to waterproof them.